Ukraine's new chief negotiator also caught in corruption scandal

(CLO) Mr. Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine's new negotiating delegation, also faced corruption allegations like his predecessor Andriy Yermak.

According to the Telegraph, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov led the Ukrainian delegation in a high-level meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, and adviser Jared Kushner in Florida on Sunday (November 30). Mr. Umerov assessed the meeting as "productive and successful", while Mr. Rubio commented that there is still "much work to do".

The British newspaper described Mr. Umerov's last-minute appointment as head of the negotiating delegation by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, replacing Mr. Andriy Yermak (who resigned after anti-corruption agencies searched his home), as a "puzzling" decision.

The reason is that Mr. Umerov himself has not escaped similar accusations: he was questioned by the Ukrainian Anti-Corruption Bureau in connection with an investigation in the energy sector and accused of not declaring the ownership of 8 real estates in the US. Although he denied it, he is still under investigation.

Mr. Rustem Umerov (in black shirt, sitting second from the right) just led the Ukrainian delegation in a high-level meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Photo: X/rustem_umerov

Bohdan Nahaylo, editor-in-chief of the Kyiv Post, questioned why Mr Zelenskyy had given the job to Mr Umerov instead of someone more experienced. "This decision shows a worrying preference for personal loyalty over professional competence, at a time when Ukraine can ill-afford such laxity," Nahaylo said, arguing that the Ukrainian president was bypassing competent professionals in favour of " politically loyal and trusted people."

Agreeing, Ukrainian politician Volodymyr Ariev told the Washington Post that Mr Zelenskyy "is repeating the mistake of trusting Mr Umerov, who is also embroiled in a corruption scandal." He stressed that Ukraine needs officials who are not only loyal, but "professional and prioritize the protection of national interests."

The Florida meeting kicks off a busy week of diplomacy , with President Zelenskyy holding talks with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday. Later in the week, US special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to travel to Moscow to continue talks on ending the conflict.

On Air Force One on the evening of November 30, US President Donald Trump said there was a "high chance" the parties would reach an agreement, but admitted that the corruption scandal in Kiev was affecting peace efforts. "Ukraine has some small, complicated problems... but I think there's a great chance of reaching an agreement," Mr. Trump said.

Source: https://congluan.vn/truong-doan-dam-phan-moi-cua-ukraine-cung-dinh-be-boi-tham-nhung-10319946.html